Shaping and trimming attachment for tile-forming machines



Feb. 9 l9 26. 1,572,028

M. MUELLER SHAPING AND TRIMMING ATTACHMENT FOR TILE FORMING MACHINES Filed August 15 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 9 1926.

M. MUELLER SHAPING AND TRIMMING ATTACHMENT FOR TILE FORMING MACHINES Filed August 15, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ina 9275 132 I (f/m M M. MUELLER SHAPING AND TRIMMING ATTACHMENT FOR TILE FORMING MACHINES Filed August 13 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 9 1926.

M. MUELLER SHAPING AND TRIMMING ATTACHMENT FOR TILE. FORMING MACHINES Filed August 13, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 9, 1926.

" I D S A PATENT osrics j MAX INLUELLER,'OF ST. LOUIS, IiEISSOURE, A SSIGllOR T LOS ANGELES PRESSEI EBRICK 7 COMPANY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION.

SHAPING AND 'rnrmmtme ATTACHMENT FOR TILE-FORMING 'monmss.

, Application filerl August 13, 1924. Serial No. 731,854.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAX MUELLER, a citizen of the 'United States, and resident of St. ,Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new'aiid usefullmprovements in a Shaping and Trimming Attachmentfor Tile-Forming Machines, of' which 'the foliowingis a speci fication. V, ,ifl y H p This invention relates to improvements in a shaping and trimming attachment for tile forming machines of the class used in the manufacture of ela'yproducts,fand.it has for its object a means attached to 'a niachine equipped With an endless conveyor or table placed in movement by the clay column as it comes from the die of the column forming machine positioned relative to the forming,

trimming and cutting machine, permitting.

the clay column to contact with the conveyor', moving it atct-lie same speed as the ejected claycolumn, and the attachments operating in unison during the travel for shaping, trimming and cutting off the col 1mm in predetermined uniform lengths.

Theessential features of my invention are the forming blocks carried by the endless conveyor 01' table, the shaping means for i pressing the clay against the blocks, and the under edgetrimming mechanism by which J the bottom edges are properly and accurately cut during the movement of the machine, thus producing a tile of the tapered mission style, each ofuniform shape and length.

The machine in general is not a part of the invention as other applications embodying the machine structure in general are now pending in the United States Patent ()flice, andon which I have made/application for Letters Patent, and in order not to conflict with, the same I am, in this application,

, making claim only to the attachment for fabricating tapered mission tile, i. cthe forming blocks on the conveyor, the presser inejchanism a'nd trimming mechanism all operating in conjunction" with the machine to function at the proper period. 7

The attachments in this connection are very simple, extremely unique, and function with perfect accuracy.

Figurecl, is a side elevation-of a clay products fabricating machine, showing my.

improved attachments applied thereto. a I Figure 2,"is a top plan view of the same.

one end of the trimming frameshowing'the and the cutting wire,

cam operated roller, tightener.

Figure 6,

is a vdetailed side elevationofthe I forming blocks with thejtrimmiiig attachment in relative position for shaping the bottom edges of the tile.

blocks and trimming mechanism 1 in their relativerposition."

Figure 8,is a diagrammatic view of one of i the finished tile.

-F igure 11, is a detailed perspective view of the combined presser and shaping mechanism detached from themachinel f Figure 12, is a detailed sectional view of one of .the sidefa'ce cams used for operating the presser. mechanism. i c

Figure 13, is an enlarged detailed sectional view of one of the presser rollers or heads.

Figure 14, is a detailed sectional View of one of the cam operated rollers used in conunction with the operation: of'the presser mechanism. Y

I will now describe the general construction of the machine with the improved attachments as illustrated in the accompany- Figure 7, is a cross sectional view offthe machine frame and end view of the forming ing drawings, to the precise shape of which I do not desire to limit myself as the blocks may be shaped to correspond with the style and size of tile to be made. v

The machine itself, as illustrated, consists of a frame composed .of standards 11 and 12, by which are supported runways or tracks, .13, and a guard, 14.

On the standards, 11', are adjustable journal bearings blocks, 15, in which is support? ed a shaft, 16, to which is attached ratchet discs, 17, the periphery of which are provided with depressions, 18, arranged at intervals to correspond with and accommodate the reception of hubs, 19, of the table "sec tiOliS. l k I A I L On the standards, 12%, are journal hraolrcts, 20, supporting a shai't, 521., also erniipped with sprocket discs, 22, constructed the same as the discs, 17', located on the opposite end of the machine frame.

On top ol the standards, 12, are journals, 23,111 which is rotatahly ll'ioilillt'lil :2 drain, 2%, constructed prelj'erihl g oil sheleton formation, and consisting; oit two side rims or Wheels, 25, provided with spokes terminating to hnbs from which project trnnnions, 26, having hearing in the journals, 2?, The two Wheels, El, are connected together by cross rodsor shafts, 27, to which are snpends ed arms, 28, forming; a cutting yoke, the free ends supporting; a (slitting Wire which cuts the clay product into proper uniform lengths.

(in one of each set of arms, 28, is a roller, 29, which is designed to guide the yoke during its travel, permitting the cutting Wires to enter and remove from the clay d ning the cutting oil process.

To one side of the frame is a siding consisting preferably of a plate, 30, its inner surface equipped with a guide or 2111 Q'roore, 31, in which the rollers, 29, trarel during the cutting oil process.

On one oi the trnnnions, 526, is a gear Wheel, 32, meshing with a gear Wheel, 33, monnted on the shaft, 21, and it in turn meshes with a gear wheel. 8i, mounted on a shaft, On this shaft is also mounted coin Wheels. 36, which regulate the position of the trinn ning mechanism composed of two frames, one mounted on each side of the machine frame.

The trii'nining mechanism consists of a frame, 8'2. (see Figure l) composed oi an enter arm, pivotahly mounted on a hraolcot, 39, secured to the machine frame. The free end oi the arm, has a cutting Wire support. -10, a Wire tightening screw, ell, and a roller, 42, said roller riding on the periphery of the can] Wheel. 36. The frame also has :i flattened extension, el-il, terminatinn' into an arm, -l-l-. its tree end heing sl ghtly lIiJlilHiiL-(l and to which is securel i' lnsl'cncd one end of a cutting or triminino wire. 4.5.

lhcso trinnnino,- members are located on the machine l'rann one on each s de i the cndlc conveyor, and the arms, ll, extend under the sectional forming hlochs, l6, mounted on and carried by the sections cone prising; the endicss table.

The cnijllcss conreror or tahle consists or a plurality of sections, 47, ciininccted tonether h 7 links, -18. equipped with hnhs, it"), and wheels, 49, these wheels riding; on the tracks, 13. To each oi these seeiions is attached one oi? the forming lilocks, l6, the outer surface or head of the blocks shaped to the required design of tile to he Formed, in this inst-once five of the blocks mes es a length oi tile, its block A is uni nnner forming ihfillt'lill ClE-El as indicated it ,rfl

mo ninneral, :50, i o out under edge hei irrnied on an iilnfi pt angle, 51, so as ;o form the edge, Ill ol the finished tile,

i; i rest? and hi}.

, ie olloi-nng hloet: ll has a gradually inci nn i oireninlierenec with. a slight tacccu :rrnihnill increase in size with a coniinninp tapered nnder out, The nnict are clearly illnstrateil by ler cni, and z-io on hloel shape nt the hlocl sid mid plan view in l igr nfes 1,2,6 and 7.

'lhc nndcrent position (it the "blocks ,acconnnodates the posi inning of the arms, 44, ill the trin'nningr jt'aines, and the nptin'ned ods in close contact with the under out sin-face, thus bringing; the cutting Wire, -15, in close proximity With the tapered or slanting; e for trii'nniing the edge, 53 oil the tile. the end edges, Maud 55, otthe elay are ver ically not by the drum cutting niechiinisin located at the fore end of the machine i tln the machine l ranie is mounted a yoke slinpmil h'nehet, 56, to the horizontal porii In thereof are pivotally. mounted two lci :3"? and :33. These levers are pro ded with shapcr heads, 5.), in the :lorin rollers and snp'gmrtcd on spindles, 60. "lhcee heads are shaped to correspond with and conform to the nter contonr of hint (l6, and pUBltlOllBCl to oontaet with the top and sides thereof, and as the senii-eironlar clay mass advances from the die o? a reparate nmchine. it contacts with the hlochs aIdiomatic-ally iulvancing, the endless conveyor permitting the my to contnct with the ieriphery oi. the roller prosser heads, :ind hr incans oi a spring, 60, the heads are held against the clay nndcr pressnre. l

'lfhe levers, 5'7 and 58, are held in hori xontal position and guided laterally hy the ln'achct, (31. (in each oi the arms, :37 and Jill. is an mztcnding :HH'L. (32, each cai'1' ing- :1 roller, iii-3. l.hese rollers are arranged to mesh with a side face ran], (it, attached to the cam wheels. Ill), and during the rotation of said earns the prcsser heads are gradually spread hy the roller, (iii, riding); on the high point oi the cam, (i l, and the lli'zlilF-J are automatically hronght inwardly h means oi the spring, (30, when the roller rides ti'iirards the lmvest point of? the cam.

When the machine is once started, it conlinncs so long as the inaicrial continues to teed to the table.

The Cain wheels, 36, control the trimming nieclninisnn the highest part oil the cam lacing at, X, the next highest part at Y, and it then continues on a gradual decrease to the lowest point Z. By the movement 7 6 and 8, thus the trimming wires, 45, are

gradually raised and lowered during the operation of the machine to form the edges 52 and 53 of the tile.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The machine is placed immediately in front of the clay dischar ing die, and as the semi-circular column 0 clay is dis charging, it comes in contact'withthe forming blocks, 46, moving the endless carrier or conveyor in the direction of the arrow,

' see Figure 1. Theroller -heads, 59, contact with the clay, the pressure of the heads on the soft clay molds or shapes it against the outer contour of the blocks, giving the clay the proper form.

I it passes The clay still continues to advance and as on beyond the heads, the lower edge contacts with the trimming wires, 45, the height of which is controlled by the side cams, 36. I i 7 -After the formed and. trimmed column advances, it is cut into uniform lengths by the cutting drum, 24, which carries cutting wires SUPPOItBLllIl yokes suspended there- The cams and cutting drum are so geared as to move at the same speed and the mechanism is rotated by the shaft, 21', manipulated by the movement of the table. In other words, the machine is placed in operation by the movement of the clay column on the table and its pressure is attained by thesdelivery machine.

I off mechanism.

2. A shaping and trimming attachment for tile forming 'machines, comprising an endless conveyor mounted on a frame, forming blocks carried by the conveyor, said blocks shaped to form a tile of predetermined design, presser members in close proximity with the blocks and to be brought in contact therewith to shape the clay to the blocks, a trimming mechanism for trimming and shaping the lower edges of the tile,

cams for. controllingthe elevation of the trimming mechanism in combination with" a cutting off mechanism for cutting the formed and trimmed material into equal lengths. I

3. A." clay products machine, comprising an endless sectional forming table, presser heads positioned to shape the clay on the table, a trimming mechanism for trimming the bottom edges, a means for elevating the trimming mechanism in combination witha gearing mechanism for placing the elements in operation. I

4. In a clay products, forming machine comprising a frame, an endless conveyor mounted therein, sectional forming blocks carried thereby, and a bottom edge triniming mechanism fortrimming the productat its required shape simultaneously with the moving product. V

5. In a clay products forming machine, comprising a frame, an endless conveyor mounted therein, and an underrrtrimming mechanism in close proximity with said conveyor, for trimming the product at a predetermined shape during the movement of the product.

6.; In a clay products forming machine, comprising a frame, an endless conveyor mounted therein, presser'heads positioned in close proximity with the conveyor for pressing the clay against the blocks as it travels with the table, and a trimming mechanism for trimming the under edge of the formed clay to correspond to the shape of V the under sideof the forming blocks.

7. In a clay products forming machine, comprising a frame, an endless conveyor located therein, sectional forming blocks mounted on the conveyor, a trimming mech anism mounted on the frame and positioned in close proximity with the forming blocks, and cams for elevating said trimming mechanism to cut the bottom edges at the required slant.

8. A clay products'forming machine, comprising an endless sectional forming block conveyor supportedin a frame, a mechanism for contacting with the clay and shaping it to the outercontour of the forming blocks, means for regulating the movement of the first mentioned mechanism, a trimming mechanism, a means for operating the same, and a cutting off mechanism.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

MAX MUELLER. 

